Hammer & Steel, Inc. Provides Steel Sheet Piling for SMART System

In keeping in line with California’s penchant for exceptional public transportation systems, the counties of Sonoma and Marin have begun joint construction of an area transit system, and Hammer and Steel, Inc. has been commissioned for providing steel sheet piling for the job. Labeled SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit), phase I of the project calls for the replacement of 60-100 year old rail lines from Santa Rosa to San Rafael, to be completed by 2016.

Part of the project requires the construction of a new bridge across the Petaluma River. For the bridge portion of the project, C.C. Myers and Ghilotti Brothers formed a joint venture and were awarded the work.

Over 325 tons of steel sheet piling were used for the construction of two temporary cofferdams, combining PZC 18, PZC 26 and PZ 35 to finish the job. The first cofferdam will be in place for approximately one year, with the second cofferdam staying in place for two years.

Overall, the new SMART line hopes to include ten stations between Santa Rosa and San Rafael. Seven two-car trains will run the line, powered by an environmentally-friendly “Tier 4” diesel engine. Each train will have the capacity for up to 158 seated passengers, 160 standing passengers and 23 bicycles. The top speed of these trains will be 79 mph, with an average speed, including stops, of 40 mph between San Rafael and Santa Rosa.

The Petaluma River bridge has a span of 907 feet, and it is the third longest precast, pre-stressed concrete girder bridge in the United States. The bridge will be constructed in three stages and require erection of 99 girders up to 130 feet in length and up to 60 tons each. The bridge itself is projected to be finished in late 2015, with commuter service starting in 2016 at an estimated cost of $67 million dollars. In addition to the rail line, the project also calls for the construction of several handicap-accessible bike and walking paths, which will be completed throughout the various phases of this project.

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